Tilting-member assembly for venetian blinds



Sept. 10, 1929. J. E. B. DANIEL ET AL 1,727,699

TILTING MEMBER ASSEMBLY FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Filed Feb. 9, 1928 Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH E. B. DANIEL AND EDWARD LOUTHAN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, AS- SIGNORS TO WESTERN BLIND & SCREEN COMPANY, OF LOS AN GELES, CALIFORNIA.

TILTING-MEMBER ASSEMBLY FOR VENETIAN BLINDS.

Application filed February 9, 1928. Serial No. 253,005.

This invention relates to an improved tilting member assembly for Venetian blinds, and has for one of its principal objects the provision of means for the secure support of a Venetian blind, while at the same time allowing of ease and simplicity of operation.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide, in a Venetian blind, a tilting member assembly, comprising the top tilting bar of such a blind, which in turn supports the blind itself, and a pivotal or tilting support for this bar which will insure easy action of the tilting function and free running of the operating cords.

Another and still further important object of the invention is to provide, in a tilting member assembly for Venetian blinds, means for supporting the blind itself in position for easy tilting without the use of ball or cone bearings, and with the avoidance of obstructive bindingor undue slackness, while at the same time affording a noiseless action.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawings and following specification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an end view of the improved tilting member assembly of this invention, showing the top portion of a Venetian blind supported thereby.

Figure 2 is a detail view illustrating the action of the tilting drum.

Figure 3 is a front view of the upper left hand corner of the blind, illustrating the parts shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken throng the middle of the friction drum, showing the details. thereof. I 1

Figure 5 is a detail view of the square shaft which supports the tilting bar of the blind. Figure 6 is a detail View of the friction washer used on the shaft.

As shown in the drawings: The reference numeral 10 indicates generally the fixed supporting bar of a Venetian blind adapted to be fastened in position by each other and form bearing plates for a rotatable supporting of a friction drum 24 and a pulley wheel 26, as best shown in F igures 2 and 3.

The pulley wheel 26 is mounted on a pin or axle 28, which is fitted into suitable openings in the circular portions 20-and 22 of the supporting plate, thereby allowing of free rotation of this pulley wheel and a suitable action of the operating cords 30 which are trained over this whee The friction drum 24 is mounted between the circular plate members 16 and 18 in such a fashion as to eliminate any actual axle support for the drum itself, the rear face of the drum being formed with an integral circular struck out projection 32 which fits into the corresponding opening formed in the rear face of the plate 18, and the front face of the drum 24 is cut away to form four radially extending lugs 34 which in turn are bent slightly outwardly all along their path from the circumference to the center of the drum and at their ends are formed with a more decided outward turn, as shown at 36 in Figure 4.

.The ends 36 of these radial members 34 are then fitted into a corresponding circular opening'formed in the outer face 16 of the supporting plate, thereby allowing of a free rotation of the friction drum 24 in its support, while at the same time insuring noiseless operation and preventing any looseness or tendency to rattle.

Fitted into the end of the tilting bar 14 is a square shaft 40, which extends outwardly throughthe friction drum 24 and the sup porting plates 16 and 18, and has screw threaded ends, as shown at 42 for the reception of a securing nut 44.

A journal washer 46 is positioned behind the nut 44 so as to retain the shaft in proper relation to the drum and the bearing plates at all times.

Adjustment of the nut 44 will regulate the frictional relation between the drum and the supporting plates.

A friction washer 48 is provided between the inner face of the plate 18 and the outer end of the tilting member 14, which itself is guarded by means of a metal plate or the like 50 fastened in position by means of nails or rivets 52.

An opening is formed in the periphery of the drum 24 and into this opening is placed the knotted ends of the operating cords 30 which pass around the drum in any suitable manner, preferably, as indicated in Figure 2, so as to allow-of a ready turning of the drum, which will accordingly move the square shaft 40 with it, the shaft 40 being fitted into a corresponding square opening in the rear face 32 of the drum 24. Tilting of the member 14 acts to tilt all of the slats 54 of the blind in the usual manner.

It will be seen that herein is provided a tilting member assembly for Venetian blinds which is simple and noiseless in operation, and which will effectively produce the desired operation of a Venetian blind with a minimum expenditure of labor and inconvenience.

The construction of the drum allows of the varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and we therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

We claim as our invention:

1. A tilting member assembly for Venetianblinds, including supports for the top member of the blind, one, of said supports comprising a rotatable drum, bearing plates for the drum, anda shaft in the end of the top bar of the blind passing through said drum.

2. A tilting member assembly for Venetian blinds, including 'supportsfor the top member of the blind, one of said supports comprising a rotatable drum,-bearing plates for the drum, and a square shaft in the end of the top bar of the blind passing through said drum, and rotatable therewith.

3. A tilting member assembly for Venetian blinds, including supports for the top member of the blind, one of said supports comprising a rotatable drum, bearing plates for the drum, and a shaft in the end of the top bar of the blind passing throughvsaid drum, and friction bearings between the drum and the supporting plates.

4. A tilting member assembly for Venetian blinds, including supports for the top member of the blind, one of said supports comprising a rotatable drum, bearing plates for the drum, and a shaft in the end of the top bar of the blind passing through said drum,

and friction bearings between the drum and the drum, and a shaft in the end of the top 4 bar of the blind passing through said drum, and friction bearings between the drum and the supporting plates, said friction bearings comprising radial lugs on one face of the drum normally bent slightly outwardly, and with their ends turned additionally outwardly to contact with the inner edges of a circular opening in the supporting plate.

6. A tilting member assembly for Venetian blinds, including supportsfor the top member of the blind, one of said supports comprising a rotatable drum, bearing plates for the drum, and a shaft in the end of the top bar of the blind passing through said drum, and friction bearings between the-drum and the supporting plates, said friction bearings comprising radial lugs on one face of the drum normally bent slightly outwardly, and with their ends turned additionally outwardly to contact with the inner edges of a circular opening in the supporting plate, together with an outwardly struck circular portion in the other face of the drum adapted to contact with a similar circular opening in its respective supporting plate.

7. A tilting member assembly for Venetian together with a nut and a friction washer 0n the shaft for maintaining the drum in desired operative relation with the bearing plates.

8. A tilting member assembly for Venetianblinds, comprising a square shaft in the end of the top tilting bar of the blind, a friction drum mounted on said shaft and rotatable therewith, and bearing plates for the drum, together with a nut and a friction washer on the shaft for maintaining the drum in desired operative relation with the bearing plates and for adjusting the amount of friction between the drum and the said plates.

9. A tilting member assembly for Venetian blinds, comprising a square shaft in the end of the top tilting bar of the blind, a friction drum mounted on said shaft and rotatable therewith, and bearing plates for the drum, together with a nut and a friction washer on the shaft for maintaining the drum in desired operative relation with the bearing plates and for adjusting the amount of friction between the drum and the said plates, together with an operating cord having both of its ends knotted and positioned inside the drum. I

10. A tilting member assembly for Venetian blinds, comprising a square shaft in the end of the top tilting bar of the blind, a friction drum mounted on. said shaft and rotatable therewith, and bearing plates for the drum, together with a nut and a friction washer on the shaft for maintaining the drum in desired 0 erative relation with the bearing plates and or adjusting the amount of friction between the drum and the said plates, to-

i gether with an operating cord having both of its ends knotted and positioned inside the drum, and an operating pulley for the cords, said pulley being supported in bearing plates integral with the bearing plates for the drum.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

JOSEPH E. B; DANIIE] EDWARD LOUTHAN. 

